Starter relay keeps going bad
Hmm, well I cleaned up all the grounds and still nothing. I ordered a new relay anyway, but I'm gonna have auto zone test my starter and see where that takes me. I decided to start my car with a little screwdriver action to the starter since it hadn't been driven in a while and found that now my coolant leaks. Good times! lol. I was worried that I messed up putting in my new exhaust manifold gasket but it was smoking from all the coolant leaking from the hose while driving I think. The hose looked pretty bad. Should be an easy fix to just replace it
Anyways, thanks yall for the help. I appreciate it!
You need to learn to troubleshoot, or you are going to go through life throwing a lot of money at trying to repair a problem
You have a wiring diagram/ service manual? Download one over at MyMopar Some of those manuals there got there because of the guys right on here
Get a 12V test lamp, some alligator clip jumper wires, and a multimeter. That is minimum
Learn how it works. The "functional path" for the starting system is ignition switch.........(yellow start wire).......through the bulkhead connector..........to coil of start relay (one spade/ push on flag terminal).........and then
A.....Older stick cars the coil grounds through the relay mount
B.....Newer stick cars and all automatics..........out the second flag terminal, down the firewall and to the center pin on the neutral safety switch which grounds in P or N. On stick cars that wire goes through the firewall to the clutch switch
That is the path for the coil of the relay
The contacts..........the 'big stud' on the relay is a junction point, is battery power, and is one of the relay contacts
The load contact is the "square" terminal which feeds down to activate the starter relay
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How to troubleshoot.
Start by turning on headlights. What happens when you twist key to start? They dim? go out? do nothing?
Each of those is a clue
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Can you hear the relay "click?" Open hood, open window, listen. No click? Get a light or meter. "Rig" it or get a second person Back probe the yellow wire at the relay. Twist the key. Should have power there in "start"
Clip you meter to the relay case and to ground. Does it light in "start?" Relay is not grounded
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Or.......Pull the yellow wire off. Jumper that flag terminal over to the big stud battery terminal. Should engage the relay and crank. Does it click? No? Make sure it's grounded. Second flag terminal? Make sure that terminal is grounded and try again. Still no click? Replace relay
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Relay clicks but no starter crank? Does it crank when jumpering the battery stud to the square relay terminal? Than relay contacts are bad. Replace relay
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Relay clicks, and relay "square" terminal shows power, but starter does not crank? Make sure solenoid wire from relay to starter is not broke. THIS HAPPENS because of engine vibration at the starter
